AmeriCorps Week is March 9-15, 2025. The federal organization celebrates and recognizes the millions of Americans who’ve volunteered over the decades to improve their communities by increasing the capacity of nonprofits to alleviate poverty.  

The Library is an intermediary between AmeriCorps VISTA (Volunteers in Service to America) and the public it serves. Twenty-four federal AmeriCorps and AmeriCorps Senior volunteers are headquartered at the Central Library; two serve there, while 11 are stationed at local nonprofits, and 11 more support the Library’s Digital Corps arm of AmeriCorps across six Library branches.  

"Simply put, AmeriCorps members make our community better," says the Library’s AmeriCorps programs manager, Beccah Rendall, who starts on March 24 as the new manager of the North-East Branch. "Whether it’s by recruiting volunteers, creating social media posts, working to bridge the digital divide, or participating in days of service, members want to help the community thrive.”  

For instance, on the 2025 MLK Day of Service, in conjunction with the nation’s observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day in January, AmeriCorps members across the metro packed personal hygiene kits for individuals experiencing homelessness in Kansas City. The Library received enough hygiene items to stock all 10 Library locations and distribute them to hundreds of patrons.   

“I’m most proud of my community asset map. We are sourcing information both from traditional data sources and also from patron response through surveys,” says Jayme Gardner, who serves as the health data analyst at the Library. “I’ll never forget reading through our 30ish pilot surveys and finding that not a single person said that they didn’t trust the library.”

MyAun Boyd is a member of the Digital Corps, established at the Library in October 2022. In 2024, Digital Corps members like Boyd have had more than 4000 digital literacy interactions with patrons at six branches during regularly scheduled tech drop-in sessions and classes at community partner sites.   

"One of the things I enjoy about my service with AmeriCorps," says Boyd, "is witnessing the gratitude and confidence patrons leave with when we’re able to work together to figure out their tech questions.”  

Through these interactions, they assist patrons with printing and scanning, applying for jobs, submitting assistance applications, writing emails, and more. Digital Corps members are dedicated to helping patrons achieve their individual goals using the Library's technology resources.    

"I really enjoy being able to help the community in a way that's not often thought about," shared Gwyndolin Belmont, another Digital Corps member. "Computers and technology continue to advance at an ever-increasing rate, and our neighbors and friends might not be able to keep up with the ever-increasing trends. Being able to help them with anything they need is very rewarding, and I'm so glad I joined AmeriCorps!" 

In addition to positively impacting their communities, volunteers also gain job skills applicable to their careers.  

“I really appreciate the mentorship I have gotten from my supervisor.  He has helped me work on networking skills and set goals to build my professional skillset,” says Kay Smith, a VISTA member serving as the homeless services coordinator at the Library. “I think over time, as I progress farther into my VISTA service year, I will make leaps and bounds. I feel like I am really in an environment where I can thrive.” 

In the last grant year, AmeriCorps VISTA members serving through the Kansas City Public Library recruited and managed 379 volunteers who contributed 1706 hours of service. They also raised $66,570 in cash resources and $104,140 in in-kind resources through grants and fundraising.   

AmeriCorps VISTA members also coordinated a dozen new partnerships for their organization, expanded energy-efficient programs in the historic Northeast, supported the development of Yvonne Starks Wilson Park, developed Library patron surveys, and more. 

“I didn't know about VISTA and all the work being done in different communities prior to my service year,” says Damon Patterson, a VISTA member at the Heart of the City Neighborhood Association. 

“What I thought was just another job or volunteer opportunity has become much more than that to me," says Patterson. "Seeing people truly work to make their community better and being part of that keeps me inspired and motivated. If anyone is considering the AmeriCorps path, I would say ‘leap.’ You won't regret it.”   

To join these members in building personal job skills and making meaningful changes in the community, visit kclibrary.org/americorps. And, if you come across any current members during this year’s national recognition week, let them know that you appreciate their work. We certainly do.